Libby
finally has the settled life she's always wanted, and never before
had. She has a happy family, two best friends Julie and Charles, and
loves her home.

This
summer will be the best of her life. A summer spent learning in a
culinary camp in New York, but when something happens at home and
she's forced to return, how will her summer turn out?

Charles
had big dreams for his future, college, medical school, and spending
as much time as possible with his girlfriend Julie. This summer will
change all of that. His mom's sick, his dad's gone and he's left
trying to hold his family together. On top of that, Julie's pulling
away from him. Will he be able to fix things before they fall apart?

Julie
is bored. She's bored of her private school. Bored of always doing
the same thing. Bored of having plans cancelled by her boyfriend
who's always busy. She's bored and she wants a change. When she
attempts to liven things up with some of her school friends, she ends
up making a mistake. How will that mistake end up shaping her summer?

Follow
Libby, Charles and Julie as they fight their way through an emotional
summer, as they learn that sometimes theirs no escaping goodbyes, but
that they aren't always bad things.

Excerpt

'Morning.'
Charles' voice cuts into the silence and makes me jump. I glance to
my side and see him lying on his back on the roof of his house. Eyes
closed, a relaxed smile on his face.

'Are
you trying to give me a heart attack?' I ask him. I move over the
small raised line which signifies the change from my roof to his, sit
next to him and swat his arm.

'Uh...'
He opens his eyes and looks at the leather strapped watch on his arm.
He's the only person our age, I know who wears a watch, most people
just check the time on their phones. I like that he has one, somehow
it suits him. 'Around an hour.' He says lowering his arm back down.

'Why?'
I laugh out loud, 'You could have stayed in bed longer.'

'Julie
wasn't sure what time you were leaving this morning.' He replies,
'And she made me promise I'd get you to call her before you leave.'

'I
will.' I answer. I'd been planning on calling her anyway, which I'd
told her yesterday when I went to her house for lunch. I would have
called Charles as well if he hadn't been up here.

'So,
are you excited yet?' Charles pulls himself into a sitting position.
His legs stretched out in front of him, while I curl mine up to my
chest.

'More
nervous than excited.' I reply, biting down on my lower lip, 'I don't
know if I'll be good enough.' This is one of the thoughts that has
been most frequent recently. I can't seem to shake the idea that
somehow I won't be able to cook well enough. I need to be good
though, because I saved for so long to be able to afford this summer
camp.

'I've
tasted your food, you'll do fine.' He closes his eyes again. Leaning
his weight back on his arms and arching his back.

'You're
tired.' I state.

'No.'

'Yeah,
you are.'

'A
bit.'

'Go
back inside and get some sleep.' I laugh quietly.

'Yeah,
ok.' He opens his eyes and smiles at me, dropping his hand onto my
knee. 'Have a great time, ok?'

'I'll
do my very best.' I give him a quick one armed hug. 'Hug your mom for
me, and tell her I'll be thinking of her, and let her know I'll be
bringing her something amazing home from New York.'

'I
will.' He smiles again, but this time it's not as bright. I nudge his
knee with mine.

'I'll
see you at the end of August, and I'll give your mom her present
then. Tell her that, ok?' I hold his gaze for a moment, 'I will see
her when I get back.'